About

Questions I often get asked as a Japanese-American:

Can you speak Japanese?

My Japanese is pretty poor. It’s kind of a shame when you consider that Japanese was actually my first language and the only one I spoke until I was 5. Then I went to Kindergarten, picked up English, and never looked back.

What generation Japanese-American are you?

I’m a Nisei, a second-generation Japanese-American. That means I was born in the US but my parents are from Japan. My mother was born and raised in Wakayama, my father hails from Miyazaki.

Have you been to Japan before?

Yes, a number of times. The first time was when I was 8 and we visited my father’s hometown of Miyazaki. Then I didn’t go again until I was an adult. Now, I try and go every year if I can.

Can you cook Japanese food?

Do rice, packaged ramen, and frozen gyoza count? (BTW, if I ever post any recipes on this blog they will be courtesy of my mother’s recipe box, so don’t worry!)

When you were a kid, did your parents make you go to Japanese School every Saturday morning?

Of course! The worst part was missing all the cartoons that were on while I was sitting in a cold classroom, shivering and practicing how to write kanji. But no matter how many times I asked my parents if I could quit they’d say NO! And then launch into all these stories about spoiled Japanese-American kids whose parents didn’t force them to go to Japanese school and then these kids grew up and were ashamed of how they couldn’t read or write Japanese. I used to think they were lying but I actually have met Japanese-Americans who tell me how much they regret not having gone to Japanese school. Of course, I don’t tell them how my parents referred to them as spoiled brats.

Does your mom drive a Toyota Camry?

Uh, yes, don’t all Japanese-American moms drive one? And I must be getting old because I’ve considered getting one as well!

Do you stay at the California Hotel when you go to Las Vegas?

I will always have loyalty to the California Hotel! The rooms are cheap, I love getting my Hawaiian food grub on, and practically every person there is a Japanese-American, usually from Hawaii. Hawaiians are the best! They are so friendly and I always make friends with the people sitting on either side of me when I’m hitting the slot machines.

I love anime, do you have any good recommendations on what to watch next?

…….

Do you have a Japanese name in addition to your American one?

I do, it’s Yuiko. To this day, all my siblings still call me that. And my parents call me Yui-chan. But I hate when people outside of my family call me that, it doesn’t matter if they’re Japanese or not.

Do you like Yoshinoya (the one in America)?

Yoshinoya is the best, I probably go there once a week!

What’s wrong with you, don’t you know that Yoshinoya in America isn’t real Japanese food?!

I could find out that it’s cockroach meat and I’d still eat it!

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27 thoughts on “About”

Thanks for dropping by my blog! I love what you have here; so many things that I haven’t seen in Japan before! Are these photos from your yearly Japan trips? They are amazing, regardless! I’ve been trying to visit Japan every so often. I guess your blog helps as a ‘compass’ for me! 🙂

Thanks so much for your kind words. I really enjoyed looking through your blog, your posts give off such a positive vibe. The majority of the pictures on my blogs are from our yearly trips but a few come from stock photo websites. Even though I take a gazillion photos when traveling, sometimes I still can’t find a single one that I like enough to post. I always thank the heavens for the invention of digital cameras!

Me too! I take so many photos for keepsake and in hopes that one shot is better framed than the other! Thanks for reading; I’ll try to keep it positive though it’s hard for such a pessimist like myself!

Hi Jam/Moxy, thanks so much for your kind words and for visiting my website! I am now following yours as well and really looking forward to reading more posts on your foodie adventures. And yes, should you go to Japan I’d be happy to help you with any questions you’d have.

Hi Florina,
I’m so sorry but as of yet I don’t have any kind of social media attached to this blog. Unfortunately the only way to follow me is by signing up with your email address or through bloglovin.com. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you for your kind words! Lol, I suppose it’s just a stereotype that all Japanese-American moms drive Toyota Camrys but it seems to be so true. When I think about it, even all the Japanese grandmothers I know love their Camrys. I haven’t yet succumbed to the Camry Curse but maybe I will change my mind if I become a parent!

Lol. Looks like Toyota Prius and Honda Civic still haven’t taken over the Japanese moms in the States. Over here in Asia those two are the most popular. Maybe you can consider getting a Toyota Vista instead? Haha

Thanks for dropping by my blog again! I’m collaborating with some friends to relaunch the blog with daily posts, starting with a one-month trial run over February. As an Asian diaspora I was also inspired to blog about the country I’m from using whatever photos I have! Would really appreciate your support … and I’ll keep reminiscing about the time I spent in Japan with your posts, it’s my goal to go back there!